James Scott vs Dave Lee Royster

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Just as The Ring ranked Scott as the No. 8 light heavyweight contender, his vulnerability showed. Going into the sixth round against Dave Lee Royster on Sept. 10, 1974, Scott was winning easily when he was head butted. Scott responded with a punch to the groin. Royster slumped down and the referee deducted not one but two points from Scott for a "severe low blow." In the eighth round, Royster butted Scott again, this time opening up a bad gash over Scott's right eye, bursting an artery that spurted blood and blurred his vision. While the ring doctor nearly stopped the fight, no points were deducted from Royster for either head butt. Scott's low blow cost him a decision and his perfect record. For the first time after a professional fight, Scott visited the first aid table. His white trunks were blood stained from the gash over his right eye. As the cut was being stitched, he spoke with a reporter from the Miami News Reporter: "You can print I'm venerable (vulnerable)," Scott began, as the reporter surely smiled at the malaprop. "I'm not superhuman. Yeah, everybody can see I'm venerable. I cut, too."